With Kyle Schwarber serving as the Phillies DH, playing time for Darick Hall has been non-existent, getting just one at-bat since August 18. Having a young player sitting around on the bench is never a good idea, so the Phillies are sending Hall to Triple-A Lehigh Valley where he can get regular at-bats with the IronPigs and see time playing at first base. Since making his MLB debut on June 29, Hall has played just five games – a total of 29 innings – at first, playing primarily as a DH.
Schwarber has been the Phillies DH since suffering a sore right calf earlier this month, taking Hall’s at-bats.
In 38 games with the Phillies, Hall is batting .264 with nine home runs and 16 RBI. Much of his playing time came as a DH against right-handed pitching, although he has started three games at first base. He also made an emergency pitching appearance for 1/3 of an inning against the Mets on August 20.
It is possible that Hall will return to the Phillies once rosters expand by two extra players as of September 1.
The somewhat imminent return of Bryce Harper from the IL means that Hall would be even further buried on the bench. Harper is beginning a rehab assignment with Lehigh Valley tonight, serving as their DH.
To fill the roster spot, the Phillies have recalled utility man Yairo Munoz from Lehigh Valley. Munoz was with the Phillies earlier this season and hit .220 in 23 games with the Phillies. In 58 Triple-A games, Munoz produced a line of .320/.342/.459 with the ‘Pigs.